Governor Cuomo's Proposed Budget and the HHH Reaction

Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled his proposed budget and as expected, our local schools are facing some significant cuts. The Half Hollow Hills school district is possibly facing state aid cuts of $2,608,807.

The district just hosted its Annual Legislative Reception/Conference to discuss this newly proposed budget and its impact on LI schools and the HHH school district. It is a longstanding annual event to thank the legislators for their past support and have a conversation about how the district can best move forward.

Victor Manuel, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Facilities, said, “The proposed cuts are terrible, and cumulative over a three-year period (09-10 through 11-12) will total $5.5 million (approximately 20%) in reduced support from the state of New York. The district will continue to analyze every facet of the budget over the next several months and attempt to present a budget that meets the needs of our students. We are always in communication with our local state legislators, and will continue to do so going forward.”

 At the conference, Superintendent Sheldon Karnilow had a lot to say about the proposed budget. “Unfortunately, for the past several years I have been forced to deliver the same message. Our plight has not changed: Drastic cuts in state aid continue to threaten us with the possibility of not being able to provide our students with the exemplary education that they deserve and their parents demand.”

Karnilow asked the local legislators for help: “Last year, the state cut education aid by about $1.4 billion, which left school districts scrambling to find ways to continue services. While we have always lobbied for increasing funding for education, we need to continue to be proactive in our stance. While we are confident that you will continue to support us, we need you to carry our message to Albany.”

Mel Stern, the president of the HHH Teachers Association, seemed very upset and angry about the proposed tax cuts. He said, “Education is the key to a bright future. HHH is one of the premiere school districts in New York State. And now our progress is in jeopardy with Cuomo’s proposed budget and these Draconian state aid cuts. We cannot accept this. Senators and assemblymen, please help us.”

Senator John Flanagan, who also attended the conference, responded jokingly, “The governor just called me and wanted to see how all of you were doing.” But then he turned serious and replied, “I believe all of us need to work with the governor and support him. We have an obligation to listen to him. The bad news is that there will be state cuts to school aid. But the cuts have to be fair. They have to be fair to Long Island and to upstate New York. We have been punched and kicked. Our numbers should be higher. The only promise I will make you today is that I will listen and act very strongly and in unison with my colleagues.”

One of his colleagues, Senator Carl Marcellino, who was also at the conference, made some good points. “We are in negotiations right now. Nothing final is done. This is only the first round. This is a budget proposal. No governor’s budget has ever been passed as proposed. There will be discussions and there will be changes. And we will come to a decision. We want an on-time budget and the governor knows that too. And by April 1, God willing, we will have a budget.”

Then he added, “It won’t be easy. It is not simple but it will be done. And the pain has to be fairly distributed. LI has been taking the brunt. We will make sure that does not happen again this year. We will make sure we do not have to be hammered anymore than we have to be this year. I give you my word: I will make sure that LI is given a fair and equitable share.” 

Many others spoke, but Karnilow said it best. He explained about the many misconceptions about education on Long Island. He said that for most Long Island communities, education is primarily a locally funded service. On average, state aid comprises less than 25% of revenues for Long Island school districts. In HHH, state aid comprises only 12% of revenue.

He said, “As Governor Paterson proposed last year, Governor Cuomo is proposing to shift the burden of mandated summer special education services to school districts on a progressive basis. Currently, the state funds these expenditures at 80% statewide and school districts are responsible for 20%. While we do not have the details of this proposal, if it is similar to last year’s, it would have a significant effect for HHH, whereby we would be responsible for the 80% and the state would only be responsible for 20%. This would be an additional $700,000 expenditure we do not currently have.”

Several speakers, including Karnilow, spoke about tax caps: “Perhaps the reason the governor did not include his tax cap legislation in the Executive Budget proposal for the coming school year is that he recognizes the dramatic impact that his state aid cuts would have on local school district budgets. Districts may well be forced to seek higher budgets this year to meet the demands of decreased state and federal aid, as well as to prevent a subsequent tax cap from eviscerating their educational programs.” 

He added, “There is no question that Long Islanders are asked to dig deeper into their pockets than New Yorkers in general to fund their schools. There is also no question that we are far too dependent on property taxes. If it is decided that a tax cap is the best strategy to address spending, then it should be understood that the design of the cap would make a major difference in the quality of our educational system. A tax cap will leave us no choice but to cut budgets even further than we already have. In HHH, we are at a distinct disadvantage because we have already implemented efficiencies that other districts are just starting to make. Additional cuts will result in a dramatic reduction in school programs.”

He explained that the HHH students consistently outperform students from across the rest of the state by every measure maintained by the State Education Department. Their elementary and middle school students exceed statewide levels of performance on all assessments. And their secondary students constantly outperform other students statewide on all required Regents exams. Their graduation rate is over 97%, and more than 94% of our graduates continue on to college. All HHH schools have achieved a rating of Good Standing on Federal and State measures. 

Then he asked: “Should we be penalized because we have achieved what other districts are striving to do? We cannot and should not be penalized because our cost of living is higher, because our students are successful, and because we do a great job. While we understand the need to cap taxes, a tax cap without consideration of the funding issues we face in this economic climate will decimate the school district, as we know it. Without mandate relief, a tax cap simply will not work for anyone. All of us in this room need to continue to lobby together – there is just no alternative. Until Albany develops a new system to fund education that is fair to the taxpayers, the schools, and, ultimately, the children of Long Island, our job will not be done.”